Fixed! Are "random" application freezes caused by bad ram?

[Antoneo]

I have just upgraded my laptop (IBM T30) from 256MB to 512 by adding another stick of 256MB SODIMM DDR2100 ram and it seems as if there are numerous problems popping up now. I am able to see 512 MB of ram in the system properties and the bios.

Previously, I have used my laptop nary a freeze or lockup with IE or Visual Studio.NET with WindowsXP SP1, all of the critical patches applied with only 256MB on it. Now with the same number of applications open, a IE window would freeze and I would get the hourglass cursor quite often. It also "feels" slower, applications seem to take longer to open up...

This is a stupid question but bad ram is usually immediately flagged as such and "rejected" by the BIOS correct? It is not like hard drive space where if there is a bad part or some bad parts that are simply unused?

This is a stick of Crucial ram, are there any windows applications that would allow me to test the ram? I did a cursory search and memtest86 seems to require a floppy or a burned cd. Is this even a ram problem?

 

[RIGorous1]

random application freezes as you defined them are usually caused by heat related problems. *usually if you are able to move the mouse around but your locked up, that means that its software based problem or inadequate resources- in which case time will eventually unlock the problem. On the other hand if everything locks up like an old man having a seizure then more often then not its hardware based and usually an indication of heat build up.

Besides your running a pretty advanced application off of a laptop.... IE: cramped space = heat trap

Also, to answer your question.... no ram shouldn't be the problem.

 

[Antoneo]

Hey there, yeah, I am usually able to move the pointer around when an application such as IE freezes. There would be an hourglass where the instance of IE is open but a pointer (arrow) when I move it to the task bar. I haven't added any software, but I did not install some of the Windows recommended updates. Only once today (first time in a long time) was there a hard crash that required me to turn off the laptop completely.

As for the heat issue, the vents are all open and clear of obstruction and it is room temperature here.

Also, I am running FAT32 on my hard drive (it came formatted like that) and I have never defragged.

 

[ivan2]

i suggest you run a memtest first to see if your suspect's right, just to eliminate the cause of the problem.

edit: fixed link

 

[Antoneo]

Another strange IE behavior: The first instance of IE would freeze (status would be "Not Responding") until I open up a second instance of IE. After that, the first window proceeds to load the webpage as fast as hell. What...........

 

[Insidious]

Cmon guyz, this one is EASY.....

Take out the new RAM.... run your 'pooter. If the problem is gone.... put the RAM back in....

If the problem returns..... Oh Jebus.... it's the RAM.

-Sid

 

[Antoneo]

link to thread

Found the fix to my problem 🙂. Didn't even have to take out the ram or anything...

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Gotta love windows update!